This is a weblog for those living in the Avonside area and and anyone else looking for information or news on earthquake assessment, rebuilding and related matters.

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Avonside Community Group Newsletter 9 June 2011

Leanne Curtis has done another of her well received Avonside Community Group newsletters (each one always reaches the top seven most popular recent posts on the blog). This one was too complicated for the blog, so the attachments had been removed. Instead links to the original documents have been inserted, in green. You still get the same information. The newsletter breaks part way through because of it's length, just click the continuation link to carry on.

The insurance article Leanne refers to is very interesting and a cautionary tale. Please read it to get an understanding of the ways the insurance companies are operating. Read also the next post on this blog about Clayton Cosgrove's concerns with insurance companies. These companies are not to be trusted - not because they are dishonest, but because each one is out to protect its interests and are prepared to minimise yours if they think they can. The "ethical" environment they operate in is quite different from ours.

Hi people (and welcome to all the new readers!)
Apologies for such a depressing start to last week's letter. I think the winter (and the chemical toilet) is addling my brain! Anyway, we have decided to stay in Avonside and tough it out over the winter and I hope many others will make the same choice. It's not pretty but better the devil you know at this stage. I was trying to look for positive thoughts after Monday's 5.5 aftershock and came up with the following:

our house did not fall down (much more than it already is)

the ground did not liquefy

the kids did not freak

the dog could not scale the newly heightened fences and escape Almost felt good about it!

Land AnnouncementsApparently Minister Gerry Brownlee wants to be able to present a 'package' with the land announcements so people who may be forced to 'retreat' from land will have a better idea of what this means. To do this, they have to work with the insurance companies which is no mean feat. Insurance companies have many variations of policies (some as many as 45) and these variations obviously make it difficult to come up with a one size fits all package. I suppose the thing to hold onto is the fact that we may have a much clearer idea of what our future looks like in the near future.

EQCFolk are still having issues with EQC and many questions remain to be answered. Reid Stiven the Senior Claims Coordinator in Christchurch currently has a weekly Wednesday Q&A spot on CTV's City Life programme. The programme is screened at 9am, 4pm, and 10pm and the producers welcome your questions to ask Reid - email citylife@ctv.co.nz or ring 3777033. If you take advantage of this please cc me as we also meet with Reid Stiven at EQC on a regular basis and try to address generic issues at these times. CTV advise that they will publish these City Life programmes on Youtube from next week (including this week's bulletin), keep an eye on this here: http://www.youtube.com/user/CTVinNZ .

Insurance ArticleInsurance.co.nz has a very good article (attached - read it here) written by Andrew Hooker which looks at the dangers of cash settlements and explains 'like for like' and storage of gear. I strongly suggest you have a read.

Temporary Accommodation Assistance PackageIt is now 9 months after the September earthquake and some families who had to leave their homes then are starting to run out of their insurance accommodation money. We have heard that people are not getting any warning that their insurance cover is coming to an end and suddenly finding themselves without money to pay the rent. If you are already out of your house and using your insurance cover to pay rent CHECK WHEN THE COVER RUNS OUT. You can apply for the governments Temporary Accommodation Assistance Package one month before your insurance cover runs out. All information about this assistance and the amounts you can claim are available at http://www.quakeaccommodation.govt.nz/apply.html. I also have hard copies of this information and the application forms for anyone who does not have internet access.

Red Cross Winter Assistance for Elderly GrantThis application assists people over 65 years who are living in their significantly damaged homes caused by either the September or February earthquake. This grant assists people with their electricity bills over the months of June, July, August and September.
" up to $400 per household paid over four months to assist with electricity bills.
I have attached information about eligibility for the grant and the PDF form to apply. http://www.redcrosseqgrants.org.nz/Overview/Information/Winter%20Assistance%20Grant.htm
Below is information from the website about how to return the forms. Forms can be picked up from Delta Community Trust (cnr Crystal St & North Avon Rd, Richmond), any other Recovery Assistance Centre or Red Cross Branch or my place at 72 Keller St, Avonside.

Red Cross - Winter Assistance Grant for Under 5s.The aim of this grant is to assist households which have children under 5 who are living in significantly damaged homes caused by either the September or February earthquake. The significant damage must include serious compromise to the insulation of their homes.
This grant is for up to $400 in total and will be made up of four monthly payments of $100 which will be paid directly to electricity retailer outlined on the application form.

Return GrantApplications can be returned to the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Commission in any of the following ways:

Email it to eqgrant@redcrossnz (Please note that where applications are lodged by email, the relevant supporting documentation must be scanned and attached to your email)

Deliver it to one of the following locations:
(a) A Red Cross Service Centre; OR
(b) Any Ministry of Social Development (MSD) office or service centre
Please keep a copy of your application for your records.
any questions? please call 0800 754 726. For more information about available grants from Red Cross see http://www.redcrosseqgrants.org.nz//Overview/Information/Available-Grants.htm

CrimeI have left a message with the local community constable about what is happening to crime rates in Avonside. People in Avondale have noticed an increase in burglaries but I have heard little about Avonside. I have asked for information about any increase and what Police are suggesting happens in neighbourhoods that are as empty as ours. I'll keep you informed but in the meantime, make your house look as lived in as possible and keep an eye out on empty places. We don't need to invite burglars in!

WaterThe map below shows where the water mains are broken in our area. The statement below from CCC would suggest that you can drink from the taps but as we still have evidence of silt coming through our pipes and the water makes the coffee taste bad, we are still getting our water from elsewhere. There is a water tank on Keller Street which states that it doesn't need to be boiled. There is also a lovely guy down Marshlands Road (just past McSaveneys Road) who has left his hose out from his well. The water comes highly recommended!
I have asked the Council what the advice is with regard to drinking the water if people are finding silt in their pipes. They are 'doing a job' to investigate what's happening and will get back to me with information.(the localised map is here)
Water supplies have been chlorinated to a level agreed with the Medical Officer of Health and is in line with best practice used in city's with chlorinated water. The tap water in the city and on Banks Peninsula is constantly tested to the New Zealand Drinking Water Standards and is safe to drink.
(http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/newsmedia/mediareleases/2011/201106021.aspx)

Temporary solutions restore sewer service (Excerpts from the media release)
(Anyone had a letterbox drop yet because this came out last week and we sure haven't heard anything?)
Posted in Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is this week contacting some residents in the worst-affected areas of the city to advise that temporary measures are being taken to restore sewer service to their homes
A further 30 areas have been identified in the worst-affected eastern suburbs where these temporary measures are necessary. The Council and contractors will this week notify these properties that alternative measures are being investigated with the aim of restoring services (use of toilet, shower, washing machine and dishwasher) to these badly affected areas by the end of August 2011.
Council Water and Waste Manager Mark Christison says alternative solutions could include any of the following:

Temporary shallow sewers to bypass broken sewer pipes

Temporary pump stations to pump to operational sewers

Using sections of intact sewers as tanks and using sucker trucks to clear these regularly

For the most difficult properties a temporary sewer tank similar to those installed after the 4 September earthquake - this would be cleared by regular sucker truck visits.

This week, these households will receive a flyer in their letterbox letting them know that investigations are happening in their area and the Council will be in touch soon with more information about the solution that will be put in place.
"The target deadline for completion of work in these areas is the end of August 2011 and I hope this timeline helps give them some more certainty.

avonsidechch.blogspot.comLawrence is still providing us with the best source of earthquake information (there's a job going for Communications with CERA Lawrence - I vote you!). Latest posts include:
" Red Cross Winter Heating Grants
" Insurance Disputes in Australia
" Who Would Live in an Earthquake Zone?
" Anyone for Wigram?
" New Fault Lines - the Scientific View
" CHCH Earthquake Grant - for BNZ Customers with School Age Children
" CCC - Water Supply Update
" Orion Newsletter
" Relocated Children School Grant
" More Earthquake Analysis
" The Waimakariri Way (which has links to great Q&A)

Newsletter Content
Apologies for the size of this newsletter and the added attachments. I won't normally send so many. If there are specific issues or questions you would like included in this newsletter please let me know. CanCERN meets regularly with the Community Wellbeing people within CERA, insurance companies, EQC, social services and others so if I don't have information at hand, I can go hunting for it. Alternatively, if you have something you feel would be good to include here, please forward it through to me. If you have questions or concerns you would like addressed privately, please indicate that. I'm not promising I can provide the answers but it's worth a try.

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